Flight from Tel Aviv turned into an "abnormal nightmare" – new details

An Arkia flight from Tel Aviv to Podgorica, Montenegro, on August 23 was unable to land due to technical issues and was diverted to Tirana, Albania. Passengers were transported by bus between the countries. About 50 people missed the return flight due to a delay at the border caused by a conflict with a border guard. The plane left without them, but Arkia later organized an evacuation flight.

An Arkia flight from Tel Aviv to Podgorica, Montenegro, on Sunday, August 23, encountered a series of logistical problems, turning the trip into an "abnormal nightmare" for hundreds of passengers. Due to technical issues with the aircraft, the plane could not land at its destination and was forced to make an emergency landing in the Albanian capital, Tirana. Passengers flying to Montenegro were transferred to buses, while those awaiting the return flight in Podgorica were evacuated by car to Albania. That evening, the departure time was postponed several times, and around midnight, about 300 people were sent by bus to Tirana. The last bus got stuck at the border due to a conflict between an Israeli female passenger and a local border guard, delaying the crossing by nearly an hour and a half. As a result, about 50 passengers missed boarding at Tirana airport: the crew decided to leave without them to avoid exceeding work time limits. The remaining passengers complained about a lack of food, water, and information. Arkia management stated that they informed customers via SMS and email, housed the stranded passengers in a hotel, and later sent a separate evacuation flight for them.